"An ambitious, well-written effort to restore a Wild West desperado to history.... Readers will surely remember Jack Slade from henceforth. A treat for Western history buffs and fans of true crime."—Kirkus Reviews

"An enjoyable read, and it is also a heroic effort."—Wall Street Journal

"Every bit the page-turner as Roughing It, with one added advantage—Rottenberg's book approaches the truth."—Wild West magazine

"Now and then a book of Western history comes along that captures an era and clears up many a mystery; Death of a Gunfighter is such a book."—Colorado Central magazine

In 1859, as the United States careened toward civil war, Washington's only northern link with America's richest state, California, was a stagecoach line operating between Missouri and the Pacific. Yet the stage line was plagued by graft, outlaws, and hostile Indians. At this critical moment, the company enlisted a former wagon train captain and Mexican War veteran to clean up its most dangerous division. Over the next three years, Joseph Alfred "Jack" Slade exceeded his employers' wildest dreams, capturing bandits and horse thieves and driving away gangs; he even shot to death a disruptive employee. He kept the stagecoaches and the U.S. Mail running, and helped launch the Pony Express, all of which kept California in the Union—and without California's gold, the Union would have failed to finance its cause. Across the Great Plains he became known as "The Law West of Kearny."

Slade's legend grew when he was shot multiple times and left for dead, only to survive and exact revenge on his would-be killer. But once Slade had restored the peace, leaving him without challenges, his life descended into an alcoholic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde nightmare, transforming him from a courageous leader, charming gentleman, and devoted husband into a vicious, quick-triggered ruffian—a purported outlaw —who finally lost his life at the hands of vigilantes.

Since Slade's death in 1864, persistent myths and stories have defied the efforts of writers and historians, including Mark Twain, to capture the real Jack Slade. Despite his notoriety, the pieces of Slade's fascinating life—including his marriage to the beautiful Maria Virginia—have remained scattered and hidden. He was never photographed and left almost no personal writings, not even a letter. In Death of a Gunfighter: The Quest for Jack Slade, the West's Most Elusive Legend, journalist Dan Rottenberg assembles years of research to reveal the true story of Jack Slade, one of America's greatest tragic heroes.

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The “West of the Imagination” can be utilized as a process transforming rather unpleasant personalities, such as Wyatt Earp, into characters of noble and mythic figures. This process is particularly evident in the case of Jack Slade. Slade has been portrayed as a skilled, courageous upholder of civilization, the sort of man made famous in dime novels. He has also been described as a cruel psychopath who killed for fun. Rottenberg has spent several years assembling the most credible reports about Slade’s exploits and personality. The result is an interesting, if still unsatisfying, account of a man whose “true” character remains tantalizingly out of reach. Slade, a Mexican War veteran, first achieved fame by securing the stagecoach routes between the Missouri River and the Pacific coast, before and during the Civil War. At some point (Rottenberg blames alcoholism), Slade’s propensity for violence got out of control, and he became a lawless thug. Rottenberg’s portrayal of Slade leaves some questions unanswered, but Western aficionados should still enjoy this effort to understand a mysterious man. --Jay Freeman

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Like many of the other reviewers, I had never heard of Jack Slade. I read a positive review this book on an Old West website and decided to investigate further. Being intrigued I gave it a chance and ended up being pleasantly surprised. Some western books give deep insight and details regarding the main character's personality and actions with little reference to the time period in which they lived. This book is essentially the opposite, as the author goes into great detail about the interwoven events of the day and how one man fit into those events. I learned a lot about the freighting business that occurred prior to the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, the Pony Express which was rendered nearly useless by the telegraph, and many other points of history that a true old west buff should be aware of. One of my favorite chapters was the last one entitled "Victims and Survivors." When I am done reading a book, I always wonder what happened to the peripheral characters, and the author does a nice job of explaining many of the fates of some supporting actors in the story. Overall a great read, and I would highly recommend it. Hats off to the author for his great research, and for doing an excellent and unbiased job of bringing this historical character back to life. Buy the book.

Very interesting book on the birth of the industry that brought people, product and mail to the Old West before the establishment of full telegraph or rail service , BUT, it was far more focused on that then Jack Slade ...the gunfighter in the title of the book.

Today, Jack Slade may not be a household name but on the Great Plains of the 1850s he was touted as "the law west of Kearney (Neb.) Dan Rottenberg has done a masterful job of sifting thorugh the rare archival material relating to Slade and weaves a history somewhat different than the legend.

Joseph Alfred Slade (who may not have answered to "Jack" in his lifetime) was born into a fine family in Carlisle, Illinois in 1830. His dad was a congressman who died early in Slade's life. His step father was U. S. Marshal for Kansas Territory and enjoyed a successful political career as well.

Alf Slade, as Jack was probably called carved out a western legend while serivng as a Division Supertindent for the various transportaiton companies that operated from Fort Kearney to south Pass. Rottenberg examines his career, marriage to the winsome Maria Viginia Dale and feud with Jules Beni, who Slade (or his men) killed. Legend says Beni's ears were severed from his body and carried by Slade as "Souvinears."

Alf Slade was a capable man when sober but a demon when under the influence. His binges were terrifying to behold and eventually resulted in his lynching in Montana in 1864.

I was riased in Western Nebraska and grew up hearing the legend of Jack Slade. Rottenberg has produced a volumn well worth the effort and a good read as well.

Most accurate book on Slade. I work in Virginia City and have heard lots of versions of Slades story. This book helps you understand a lot more of who he really was. It does have lots of facts and is not an easy read. Sometimes I wondered if it was more about the overland trail then Slade.